Keen to retire to Greece? From eco-friendly travel to shopping like a local, we’ve put together ten tips for making your British state pension go further while living in Greece.
More than a million Greek retirees live on less than €500 per month. That’s not easy for them, yet they manage to stay well-fed and healthy, largely because it is possible to live a good life in the Mediterranean more cheaply than in the UK.
The Property Guides Cost of Living Survey compared living expenses across 13 countries popular with British expats, including Greece. Out of all of them, Greece came in 4th. It is £506 cheaper than the UK (which came in at number 11). Greece was particularly budget-friendly for travel, the costs of running a home, travel and leisure. For more insight, head here.
Could your retirement be simpler and cheaper in Greece?
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1. Get the bus
You don’t usually need a car in Greece. The buses are plentiful and at €1.40 for an average journey, half the price of a British bus ticket. Petrol is one of the few things in Greece that is more expensive.
2. Nine month rental
Not just pretty, Greek homes cost 72% less than British
According to Numbeo, rental prices for a one-bedroom per month outside of the city centre in Chania, Crete costs £460. You’ll likely find even lower prices in the winter. Organise a rental for the nine months of the year when Greece is quiet and let the landlord have it back for the summer. This might be the time for a long visit back to Britain, avoiding the summer heat and those air-conditioning bills!
The cheapest fresh vegetables in Greece are tastier than the priciest imported ones in the UK.
3. Markets not supermarkets
Supermarkets are a little cheaper than in the UK, but the markets are much cheaper. Meat in the market is at least 25% cheaper than in the supermarket and it’s a basic rule of thumb that the cheapest fresh vegetables in Greece are tastier than the priciest imported ones in the UK.
4. Shop late
Haggling isn’t common in Greek markets (one of the joys of living there), but no stallholder wants to take their stuff home with them. Think of it like an episode of Ready Steady Cook and you might be surprised how creative you can be with pig’s cheeks and an aubergine.
The Central Meat Market in Athens.
5. Don’t take a shopping list
Ask the stall holder what’s good value today and it’s in their interests to keep you happy with genuine bargains.
6. Invest in a log burner
Heating for a two-bedroom house is around €500 per year. Or, it could be free. You might have to drive a bit, but Greece is one of the emptiest and woodiest countries in Europe, and if you can’t find enough fallen wood to get you through the winter you’re not trying hard enough. Chopping all that wood should save you gym membership too. Don’t steal anyone else’s wood, just stick to the common areas.
Heating for a two-bedroom house is around €500 per year. Or, it could be free.
7. Grow your own and squeeze!
With Greece’s high rates of VAT, eat and drink what you can grow. To grow your own orange tree: cut your orange open, take out the largest pips, wash them thoroughly in clean water, put in water and discard any that float. Dry them off and store in a fridge for three weeks. Take them out, soak a few hours then plant in a pot. Place somewhere warm and keep the compost moist. About a month later you’ll begin to see some action, and in a couple of years’ time, start squeezing.
8. Don’t chuck it, fix it
The 24% VAT rate makes it genuinely worth fixing things that go wrong instead of buying new. In Greece, the job of repairman is still going strong – ask in your local café or bar.
9. Avoid the tourist traps
Throw away your guide books – you’re not a tourist anymore! Ask your friends and neighbours where they eat out. Don’t stint on the tips if you can avoid it, that 10% might be essential to the waiter’s livelihood.
Large sesame pretzels called koulouri sold on most city squares cost around 50 cents
10. Love the street food
Those sesame pretzels called koulouri sold on most city squares cost less than €3 each and taste a lot better than a £6 Pret-a-manger sandwich. Enjoy how the menu changes through the year, from roast chestnuts in winter to sliced melon in summer.
When it comes to property, getting a good deal is often a question of good planning and research. Download our guide: How to Negotiate Abroad to give yourself a head start.
The Greece Buying Guide covers every stage of the property buying process, sharing our experience and knowledge to ensure a safe and successful property purchase. The guide will help you to:
